Manchester Velodrome

Manchester Velodrome stands in Sportcity, a sports complex in east Manchester. It is an indoor track built to Olympic standards, opened in 1994 as part of the National Cycling Centre. The track is 250 metres long with bankings rising to 42 degrees, designed for speed. A 122-metre steel arch supports the roof, leaving the track fully visible from every seat. The facility sits beside the City of Manchester Stadium and the National Indoor BMX Arena, which opened in 2011. It is one of the busiest velodromes in the world, used from early morning until late evening. The velodrome has driven Britain’s rise to the top of world cycling. British Cycling has been based here since 1994, overseeing six Tour de France wins by Team Sky riders between 2010 and 2019. More than fifteen world records have been set on this track, including Chris Boardman’s hour record in 2000. The venue hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 1996, 2000 and 2008 and the track cycling events of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Regular Revolution series events draw sell-out crowds and showcase both established stars and young riders. Visitors find a smooth Siberian pine track, resurfaced in 2007 for a better ride. The stands overlook the steep curves where riders reach high speeds. Public taster sessions and practice rides are often booked weeks ahead. Saturday night Revolution meetings feature sprint and endurance races with international and British cyclists. The atmosphere is electric, with fans standing when seats sell out. Beyond the track, the wider Sportcity area offers other sporting venues and green spaces to explore.